The Minnesota Timberwolves have made a change on their team for the new NBA season. After nine seasons with the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns, also known as KAT, has been traded for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Keita Bates-Diop to the New York Knicks. Although this could seem like a win for the Timberwolves because they gained three players, KAT’s stats prove that statement wrong.
KAT is a four-time NBA All-Star player. He is second in the Timberwolves’ all-time scoring list, scoring 13,121 points in nine regular seasons. KAT also led his team to the West Conference finals in 2024, alongside his teammate Anthony Edwards, for the first time in twenty years. He has made a significant impact on the Timberwolves, and constantly proved himself to be an excellent fit for the team. He has averaged about 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game for the Timberwolves.
Randle, one of the players being traded, is a three-time NBA All-Star player averaging 23.5 points per game. He also received the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2021. DiVincenzo was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 2018 and averages about 9.5 points per game. Bates-Diop has played six NBA seasons and averages six points per game. He also used to play for the Wolves, when he was drafted in the second round in 2018. While these three players’ stats are not bad, KAT’s stats prove he may be a better fit for the Timberwolves. I think that it is reasonable to say that KAT is a better player overall, which means that the New York Knicks gained a better player in the trade.
With the NBA season just beginning, the players for both teams still have a lot to show in the 2024-25 season. Trading one player for three was risky for the Wolves, and I think they made the wrong decision. As good as Randle, DiVencenzo, and Bates-Diop may be, KAT has shown time and time again how good of a player he was for the Wolves.
It is still early in the season, which means that there is still room for improvement for all players. All players are extremely talented, and they are expected to bring great things to their new teams. The New York Knicks and Timberwolves gained excellent players, but ultimately, stats show that the Wolves lost in this trade.